Conspiracy beliefs erode democratic participation and breed extremism
Evidence
Conspiracy myths, on the other hand, may not seem dangerous to the individual, but they are always a threat to democracy: the expectation that one cannot participate in shaping a society because it is controlled by sinister forces leads, at the very least, to a failure to make meaningful criticism and improvements. But often it also leads to political extremism – and in the worst case to hatred and violence. — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 287
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Real democratic vulnerabilities gave fertile ground to conspiratorial theories — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 900; Conspiracy exposure reduces civic participation and political engagement — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 978; Conspiracy belief stems from universal human meaning-making rather than outsider pathology — Anna Merlan, Republic of Lies, 32 (+9 more)
Related
- Real democratic vulnerabilities gave fertile ground to conspiratorial theories (similarity 0.86)
- Conspiracy exposure has at times served democratic reform (similarity 0.85)
- Conspiracy exposure reduces civic participation and political engagement (similarity 0.84)
- Conspiracy belief stems from universal human meaning-making rather than outsider pathology (similarity 0.83)
- Conspiracy theories convert vague existential dread into manageable concrete fear (similarity 0.82)
- Conspiracy theories have repeatedly caused serious global harm throughout history (similarity 0.82)
- Reducing conspiracism requires curing underlying social unfairness (similarity 0.81)
- Conspiracy theories are accessible ways to speak truth to power (similarity 0.79)
- Conspiracism attacks shared modes of explanation, not just specific targets (similarity 0.79)
- Conspiracy worldviews corrode the shared trust reality depends on. (similarity 0.79)
- Conspiracy thinking is just normal political thinking exaggerated (similarity 0.79)